Over the last few years, there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of shooting video games that come out on different platforms. However, most of them have been military titles because they fit the shooter genre perfectly. Some of the most iconic army shooters include the Gears of War series, the Battlefield franchise, the Call of Duty series, the Rainbow Six series, The Division, Sniper Ghost Warrior, Medal of Honor & more.

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That said, only a handful of games have truly encompassed the brutal nature of military life. Let’s take a quick deep dive into the past and check out some of the most harrowing army shooters of all time.

10 Spec Ops: The Line

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Spec Ops: The Line is a third-person shooter that came out in 2012, among other top games like Dishonored, Mass Effect 3, Far Cry 3, Assassin’s Creed 3 & more. Hence, it didn’t get as much love as other titles and was forgotten by people. Fortunately, the game became a cult classic over the years thanks to its mindblowing storyline and plot twists.

In Spec Ops: The Line, players assume control of Captain Martin Walker, who’s out in a deserted Dubai with his military squad. However, things get out of hand when he discovers the brutal truth behind his mission.

9 Red Orchestra 2: Heroes Of Stalingrad

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Not many remember Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad, as it was from a less-known developer team. However, anyone who has played the game would recommend it for its realistic gunplay and controversial campaign. Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad is a first-person shooter focusing on military simulation and army tactics.

It takes place in the Pacific campaign of World War II alongside the grueling Battle of Stalingrad. The game also came with a single-player campaign expansion pack titled, Rising Storm, which is the most must-play part of it.

8 Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway

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Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway is one of Ubisoft’s old and forgotten games that came out over 10 years ago. It’s a unique mix of third-person shooter cover mechanics and first-person shooter gunplay. The game is a World War 2-themed tactical shooter that utilizes the power of good-old Unreal Engine 3 and builds an experience that’s worth playing to this day.

Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway also offers a great storyline, many realistic and sad moments, and shows the harsh truth behind wars. Most players who loved this Gearbox Software title still wonder why a sequel never came out.

7 Battlefield 1

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Battlefield 1 isn’t the first entry in the long-running Electronic Arts military shooter series. However, it is the last good Battlefield game because of its great multiplayer, amazing gunplay, proper balancing, and memorable campaign. In this first-person shooter, players experience six different storylines through the eyes of various protagonists.

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First is “Storm of Steel,” the prologue and part of the Harlem Hellfighters’ journey. Next is “Through Mud and Blood,” focused on tank driving. Then there is “Friends in High Places,” where players play as a Royal Flying Corps fighter pilot. Three more campaigns are set in Itlay, the Gallipoli Peninsula, and the Kingdom of Hejaz.

6 Call Of Duty: WW2

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Call of Duty: WW2 is a 2017 military shooter by Activision & Sledgehammer Games. It’s the fourteenth main title in the long-running Call of Duty series and one many players disliked for its multiplayer. However, the disappointing online also kind of turned off people from its campaign mode, which truly deserve a playthrough.

Call of Duty: WWII not only went back to its roots by removing the regenerative health system but also relied on cooperation with the squad. Anyone who has played this game would know that it has a great cinematic storyline that almost feels like a real war feature film.

5 Homefront

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Homefront is a decade-old military game that tried to bring a new narrative style to modern-day shooters. The THQ title takes place in 2027 dystopian America, where Korea had reunited to become the Greater Korean Republic. The game then uses real-life circumstances to show how a war between Iran and Saudi Arabia would impact the world, what role each country would play and how it would lead to the Korean-American War.

The setup for Homefront was brilliant, and the story was as harrowing as it goes. Unfortunately, the mild gunplay mechanics made it very unpopular among players, who couldn’t look past its gameplay.

4 Arma 3

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Arma 3 isn’t the most gore-filled military experience nor a cinematic masterpiece like some other titles on the list. However, it’s a brilliant simulation game that focuses on realism more than anything else. This Bohemia Interactive title is a 2013 game that is still a personal computer exclusive due to the complexity of controls and gameplay design.

Arma 3, at its core, is a tactical shooter that utilizes its massive open world to build the most realism-based military experience in any shooter. It’s a must-play for people who want to experience war in its most original gamified form.

3 Crysis

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Crysis may be old, but it is still one of the most amazing military shooters ever released on any platform. Not only was this Electronic Arts title a technical masterpiece in its time, but it was also an excellent shooter with mind-blowing realism. The game utilizes the power of CryEngine, where players have the freedom to destroy almost everything, from trees to crates, in the most natural way possible.

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However, a horrific yet engaging story about an alien invasion lies under the stunning visuals and game design. Despite its sci-fi nature, Crysis is an outstanding military shooter with a great story.

2 Sniper Elite 5

Sniper Elite 5

The Sniper Elite series has kicked up over the last decade and has become one of the most notable sniper games on any platform. It has over nine different games with unique storylines based on old-school war, military action, and occasionally zombies. Once again, most of the games in the series are tactical shooters and rely on aiming, precision, timing, and, most importantly, snipers.

Sniper Elite 5 takes the series to the next-gen and offers the most up-to-date design, gunplay, storytelling, and gameplay. It showcases a brilliant story from 1944 and continues right after the end of Sniper Elite 4.

1 Operation Flashpoint: Red River

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Operation Flashpoint games are forgotten tactical shooters by the legendary British video game developer Codemasters. The military simulation series has featured many worth-noting titles, such as Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis, Operation Flashpoint: Red Hammer, Operation Flashpoint: Resistance, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, and more. However, the latest entry in the series that came out in 2011 was the best.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River is a single-player & co-op tactical first-person shooter that puts players in the shoes of "Outlaw 2 Bravo", a United States Marine Corps fireteam. The game takes place during a fictitious Tajikistan war and showcases warfare's horrific side.

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